Ripple has received final approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish Ripple National Trust Bank (RNTB), marking another step in the company’s efforts to expand its regulated financial services in the United States.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced the decision on X late Monday. The company initially applied for a national trust bank charter in July 2025 and secured conditional approval in December of that year before receiving final authorization in October 2026.
The approval strengthens Ripple’s position at the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets. The company has spent more than a decade developing blockchain-based infrastructure for cross-border payments and tokenization, and the new charter is intended to support its institutional services.
Garlinghouse said the decision reflects the potential for banks and crypto companies to work together. He added that the charter would help Ripple expand its regulated infrastructure for RLUSD and support products spanning payments, custody, and capital markets.
New Trust Bank to Oversee RLUSD Reserves
Ripple National Trust Bank will manage the reserves backing RLUSD, the company’s dollar-pegged stablecoin. It will also serve as a trustee for the reserves and offer regulated digital asset custody services to institutional customers.
These services are designed for organizations that use digital assets in payments, trading, and treasury management.
RLUSD will continue to be issued by Standard Custody & Trust Company, Ripple’s New York-regulated subsidiary. The national trust bank will introduce an additional layer of federal oversight while the stablecoin remains subject to applicable state-level regulation.
Launched in December 2024, RLUSD has reached a reported market capitalization of around $2.5 billion, placing it among the 50 largest stablecoins. The token is used across Ripple’s payment infrastructure and serves as collateral on Ripple Prime.
Its reserves include U.S. dollar deposits, government securities, and other cash-equivalent assets, with BNY holding most of the backing assets. XRP continues to play a separate role in Ripple’s broader ecosystem, particularly in cross-border transactions.
Ripple Strengthens Its Position in Regulated Finance
Ripple said it will continue coordinating with the OCC, New York regulators, and other authorities as RNTB prepares to begin operations.
The approval comes as the United States moves toward implementing stablecoin rules under the GENIUS Act. The evolving framework is expected to shape how issuers manage reserves, meet compliance requirements, and provide stablecoin services.
With the final charter in place, Ripple gains a stronger regulatory foundation for expanding its institutional offerings. The move could help the company broaden its work in stablecoin infrastructure, digital asset custody, and payment services while building closer ties with the traditional financial sector.
